Tag: executive assistant

One space or two? Spoiler alert: It’s one Just because you’ve always done someone one particular way, doesn’t mean you should continue to do it that way. Especially when everyone is telling you it’s now the wrong way. In several of my training programs, there is a module about keeping your skills up-to-date, and it … Continue reading Are Your Writing Skills Up To Date?

Times change. Hairstyles change, music changes, cars change, and even language changes. Business writing changes, too. You may have learned how to do business writing a certain way, but that doesn’t mean it’s still the correct way, today. Some of the changes I like, some not as much, but we still need to keep up … Continue reading Business Writing Update

When I was in high school our English papers were graded harshly. If we used an extra comma or the wrong punctuation, we would lose one mark for each occurrence. I learned very quickly to pay attention to my writing and to ensure I didn’t use too many commas. Times have changed, and it seems … Continue reading To comma, or not to comma?

Let’s face it … we spend far too much time in meetings. Each day in the United States there are approximately 25 million meetings, which represents a collective 15 per cent of any organization’s time. Meetings are meant to be productive, aren’t they? Meetings are supposed to be an efficient way to share information, a … Continue reading Productive Meetings

For whatever reason, lately I’ve been feeling overwhelmed by the amount of work I have sitting on my desk and on my computer. The volume is noticeably higher, the phone seems to be ringing more often, and I often feel like a chicken with its head cut off. I’m guessing I’m not alone, either. We … Continue reading Cure for Work Overload

Are you a Judgmental Communicator? Bob: Rhonda, we need to have a conversation about next week’s meeting. Rhonda thinks: Yeah—you’re just trying to get me to do all the work, aren’t you? Rhonda says: Certainly. When works best for you? Rhonda thinks: Please say ‘never.’ Bob: How is Monday at 9 a.m.? Rhonda thinks: That … Continue reading Are you a Judgmental Communicator

There are times when I’m a terrible listener. During conversations, I’ve been known to be distracted, judgmental, argumentative – or to partially ignore the person I’m chatting with. It isn’t that I don’t hear the person I’m speaking with, I certainly do. But it’s more that I’m not really listening to what they are saying. … Continue reading Are You Listening?

One of the biggest complaints about being an administrative professional is that we often aren’t paid enough for what we do. But, is money really admins’ biggest issue? If your pay was doubled, would you be much happier? We all know the adage that “money doesn’t buy happiness.” Many surveys have shown that more money, … Continue reading Show Me the Money (or Something Else)

It is about effort, attitude and willingness. I just bought a new car. And yes, it is a really nice car, and I feel really good when I drive it. Somehow it doesn’t make everyone else feel good. For some reason, they feel the need to compare and judge. And somehow I come out being lucky for … Continue reading Stop Chalking Up Career Success To Luck